Name in rafters with “explosive offense” where fans should “get ready for the show”: Miami TE Jaleel Skinner ratcheting up expectations

Miami Hurricanes tight end Jaleel Skinner has all the tools to be a bigtime playmaker in Shannon Dawson’s offense. But he has to earn his reps on the field, and that starts with showing out in fall drills that kicked off this week.

Skinner, a former Alabama commitment who flipped to Miami in the Class of 2022, is working behind Oregon transfer Cam McCormick and returner Elijah Arroyo (who is coming off injury) so far this fall.

But he expects to have a role to play, and an impact to make in this new attack.

“It’s like the last piece of a puzzle – I love it, we all love coach Dawson’s offense,” Skinner told CaneSport. “I love the flexibility and freedom we get as players out there to be ourselves on the field and show what we can do.

“The offense is going to be explosive. Sit in your seat and get ready for the show, that’s all I have to say. It’s going to be a fun ride.”

Skinner says he sees all the tight ends in the room having flexibility where they can block, receive and do it all.

“I feel we have one of the best tight end rooms in the country,” he said. “Drop all the egos – we are going to put the best man in the best situation, that’s how coach feels about it and that’s how I feel about it.”

A year ago Skinner starting twice and played in nine games, catching nine passes for 129 yards and a TD. His Pro Football Focus grades? Overall he graded out at a not-real-good 52.1 percent (with 70 considered a good grade). He had a 58.0 grade as a receiver, 68.9 grade pass blocking and a poor 35.1 run blocking grade. He had issues with drops in practices and games.

“We have this new JUGS machine called the Monarc Sports Machine, I love it. I credit that to me being able to catch the ball on the move, adjust to the ball faster. That’s something I’ve been able to work on a lot this offseason.

“It’s time now to show the world what you can do. I’m looking forward to this year.”

So how is Skinner different this season?

“I’ve grown up a little bit,” he says. “It’s going great. … I’ve been able to move around a lot more, flex out more and be more inline. So it’s stuff I’m getting better at, being able to adapt more to. … I want to be relied on more as a blocker so I can be a three-down tight end. That’s what I want to be.”

Skinner’s put on more than 20 pounds since arriving at Miami last year, pushing past 235.

With last year’s starter Will Mallory gone, he sees an opportunity.

“I’m trying to be whatever the team needs me to be, an all-around playmaker,” Skinner said. “The offense we have now you have to be a playmaker, make bigtime plays.

“I’m just really looking forward to my opportunities whenever I get the ball to make the best of it. Now I’m trying to be like the next Kam Kinchens, hang a banner up here (in the Indoor Practice Facility as an All-American).”

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